The Opelousas courier., 1887-01-01
POOR JOHN /!
BY FLORENCE FL. GErcnELL.

It was an August day; the heat wa
intense, and Mrs. Arde, on her waydown
town to do some shopping, stopped in at
Mrs. Bray's to rest. She found Mrs.
Bray, looking worn and anxious, busy
mending her little sons ~diminutive knick-
erbockers. She put aside her work at
once, however, on seeing her friend and
begged Mrs. Arde to sit down.
"I'm real glad you came in" she said,
''for I've been dull enough lately and
haven't gone anywhere or seen anybody y
"Have you been sick 2" asked Mrs.
Arde.
"Well, / can't say I've been actually
sick, though I've had the headache al
most constantly. But / haven't felt in
the mood for any amusement. I often
think / have mere trouble than any one
else living. I tell John it's no wonder
Pm getting gray SO fast. I'll look like
an old woman long before my time.n
What is the matter z" asked Mrs.
Arde.
"Well, in the first place, there's to be
a new superintendent at the mills on the
first of September, and / expect nothing
else but that John will lose his place."
"Why, isn'the liked 3"
eyes, but there are always so many
discharges when a new superintendent
comes in. If John loses his place Idon't
know what we will do-go to the poor
house, suppose"
"Not SO bad as that, I hope;'' and
Mrs. Arde could not repress a smile.
''At least not while you own such a nice
cottage as that you have just built on
Pierce street. Mr.. Arde and / drove
past it yesterday and admired it very
much"
ooh, that's just another source of
trouble. We built it TO rent, you know,
and it has been finished three weeks, and
no sign of a tenant yet. | tell John it
will eat its head off. It was a great
mistake to build SO far out. People
won't go out there to live; it's too incon-
venient. was saying to John yesterday
that it wouldn't surprise me at all if we
didn't rent it fer a year--and think
what a lossl'
M ~ @##. #sSH#
"Of course you remember the old say
ing about crossing a bridge before you
c6aae to It'll" said Mrs. Arde.
s'oh, it's easy for you to talk; it isn't
your bridge" was the rejoinder. 81
wouldn't worry about the house SO much
if it were not that we are anticipating a
heavy loss in another direction. John
very foolishly went security on a note
for two hundred dollars, which will fall
due in three days. Not a word have we
heard from the man who owes it. and /
am morally certain he won't pay a cent OF
il. feel fairly sick whenever Think of
it. told John yesterday that I'd never
him if he ever went security for
any one again. / don't think q man
to ask such a favor; it is taking a
mean advantage Of friendship"
"Why not hope that the note ,oas be
asked Mrs. Arde gently.
There's no ground for hope,' and
Bray sighed.heayily. ssEow we are
10 manage I don't know, for it took
every cent we'd laid by to build that
and | told John when ii was
finished that we'd have to scrimp more
Than ever now. And We must calculate
IN a heavy doctors bin too"
aWhy soq'
well, George had the diptheria last
January, you know, and all but died,
md it stands to reason he'll have it
gain, his throat's 80 tender. Pm wor-
led about him all the time. / don't
AXE q moments peace. Life is so
II does seem as If some people
shut off from everything like en-
ogment. With me it's nothing but care
md trouble from the beginning to the
nd Of every year.n
"Thaye always maintained that life ii
much as we make it, said Mrs
1rde quietly, as she rose to go. aOf
trouble comes upon u sometimes
-We must expect that-but it's q bad
Ian to borrow II. Think ii is better
Q hope for the best under all circum-
Iances and put our faith IN The Lord.
les sure to bring things out rightin the
I'D. And you know that sometimes :
hat seems like . great trouble turns
ut 70 be . blessing in disguise.
ch, # is easy Tor you To feel that !
" son have any worries, ! II /
lrned Mrs Bray. B husband Is
aI on ana yoa have do children. !
e saying to John this very morning
iat 4 must certainly have been born i,
u unlucky star [
Poor John thought DTS. Aras, but i
! naads noresds 1